Abstract
Background/Aim: Mechanisms of resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are not fully-understood. In this study we aimed to elucidate remaining unknown mechanisms using erlotinib-resistant NSCLC cells. Materials and Methods: We performed array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) to identify genomic aberrations associated with EGFR-TKI resistance in erlotinib-resistant PC-9ER cells. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunoblot analyses were performed to confirm the results of aCGH. Results: Among the five regions with copy number gain detected in PC-9ER cells, we focused on 22q11.2-q12.1 including v-crk avian sarcoma virus CT10 oncogene homolog-like (CRKL), the overexpression of which seemed to be associated with EGFR-TKI resistance. Blockade of downstream phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog (AKT) signaling using NVP-BEZ235 suppressed the proliferation of PC-9ER cells, implying the involvement of acquired CRKL amplification in EGFR-TKI resistance. Conclusion: Acquired CRKL amplification was identified as contributing to EGFR-TKI resistance; this cell line model can be utilized to study this resistance mechanism.
- Received September 30, 2013.
- Revision received October 28, 2013.
- Accepted October 29, 2013.
- Copyright© 2013 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved